6th of November 2015.
A recurring theme in John Lewis’ Christmas adverts has been “to take out branding and centre on stories to grab people's attention” (^14.1). As a 19-year old, Aurora was the first teenager picked to do covering (^14.2):
“It was quite a random thing. I was playing a show in England in July, and I think one of the guys from John Lewis was there at my London show and apparently they liked something about me and my band and later we got a mail offering us to record this song – and we did! I really liked the song, so I said yes.” (^14.3)
Not everyone was happy for this release. Alan McGee, the former Oasis manager said:
"What I am pleased with is that Noel Gallagher received his royalties. I hope they gave him a million pounds, but I actually think the song is rubbish."
Geir Luedys calmly responded with a laugh that "... it sounds like a man who no longer hasroyalties... Her interpretation of this song has hit extremely many people in the heart, and it's a beautiful thing. It's not rubbish to make people feel good." (^14.4)
Aurora herself had this to say about the song:
“It’s a beautiful song. The lyrics are very good, so I thought, ‘This is something I can sing; I can stand for these words because they’re beautiful words.” (^14.3)
Later, in 2018, when asked if she performs the song, she said: “Maybe at the first shows after the ad came out, I played it then, in the UK. But I haven’t since. There’s a line in there that I don’t like, ‘This old town don’t smell too pretty.’ It doesn’t sound like me. I like many of the other lines, it’s just that one that bothers me, and it made me think, ‘OK, not again.’”(^14.5)
The Norwegian newspaper, VG, made a review of Auroras cover, and wrote: “The 19-year-old handles this... with equal parts mild magic and a sprinkle of star dust... Aurora performs it so brightly, clearly and beautifully that it's almost disappointing that it doesn't snow outside.” (^14.6)
Sources
14.1 – Christmas ad spend 'to hit record high
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-41933877
14.2 - Songfacts - Half The World Away
https://www.songfacts.com/facts/aurora/half-the-world-away
14.3 – Aurora Q&A for NME
https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/aurora-qa-meet-the-little-known-singer-covering-oasis-for-john-lewis-14342
14.4 – Dagbladet: The man behind Oasis
https://www.dagbladet.no/kultur/mannen-bak-oasis---auroras-lat-er-soppel/60593838
14.5 - Aurora Daily
https://www.aurora-daily.tumblr.com/post/177024453957/aurora-aksnes-interview-the-singer-on-wildness/amp
14.6 - VG - Song review
https://www.vg.no/rampelys/musikk/i/dX58B/laatanmeldelse-aurora-half-the-world-away